THE OVERCROWDED SCHOOL.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14513, 20 December 1912, Page 2

THE OVERCROWDED SCHOOL.

PROTESTS AT ELMWOOD. "A GRATUITOUS SNEER." For its action in refusing to provide additional accommodation the North Canterbury Euucation Board cam*-' under a hot and scathing fire 01 criticism at the b.eak-up of the Eimwcod sciiool yesterday morning. Particularly strong exception was taken to the remarks made by one member at tho meeting of the Board on Wednesday. Mr J. C. Adams, chairman of the Ehmvood School Committee, congratulated tile chil .ren on tne fart t:.at they were enjoying the privileges of attending a roally good school. By "a really good school" he did not mean a school that simply did well in inspectors' examinations, or in scholarship examinations —though lie ha J to congratulate those who had taken scholarships—but he meant ■ a school whor<; Hiildrcn were taught how to get ready for their after life. They were taught how to b-h;vo towards one another, and how the boys shou.d behave chivalrously towards tho girls, and all that went to make what was known as the tone of the school. And the tone of tho school was go good that they were called ■ names. •'Yesterday." continued Mr Adams, "we were called an aristocratic school. •I will tell you first of all what was meant by the speaker. The speaker meant that we appeal to those ar:stocrafc people who have only to go into their back g rdens and dig up as much gold as they want, and that we think wo to a better class than -other schools. We don"t; we belong to tho people. This is a school for everybody that likes to come as long as we have i corns big enough to accommodate them. (Hear, hear.) Anybody and teverybody is welcome provided that they come to what wo understand as an aristocratic school. * We understand t>v that the 'best-ruled' school, and tho reason is that here we try to impress noon the children that they ought to try and do their best in every way. As long as we are trying to carry out that here, so long will I be pleased to bave tho nickname 'aristocratic ror tlio Elmwood school. We have a population that demands a larger school than we have at present, and it won t be very lonr before pressure will compel the Education Board to add to our bu Wings and to our playing grounds Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P.. Saul that the attendance at tho school and tho high tone of the school was the -very best evidence that could be obtained of tho efficiency and enthusiasm ot the staff If an aristocratic school meant that they were industrious, energetic, persevering and straightforward children then they would be aristocratic in the best sense of the term. Mr T. H. Davey, M.P., said that he thought some of the remarks made at tho Education Board meeting on Wednesday were decidedly uncalled for. The true meaning of "aristocratic' had been explained to them by Mr Adams, but the remark made by a member of the Board was simply a gratuitous sneer. There was no doubt that. members of the Education Board had taken umbrage at members of tho committee and members of Parliament going to tho Minister and asking for more accommodation. But why should they not go to the fountain-head, if the Education Board would not give them what was their due. Tho time had come when tho Minister must have the prerogative and exercise it; to do what was right, despite the Education Board. "Mr Hardy is the man," continued Mr Davey, "who is responsible for the request being refused. I am sorry that members of the Education Board have not done a little bit better for this school than they havo done." Mr G. Witty, M.P., said that he endorsed the remarks of previons speakers. The Board of Education, as a Board of Education, should cater foi tho. children, and not make sneering remarks with regard to any scliool. They thought too much of tae ponce, and too little of the children. "This school," said Mr It. Sinclair McKenzie, deputy-chairman of tho committee, "has suffered considerable handicap for many years. We need extra playing grounds, and, apparently, tho only way we can get the land is by paying for it ourselves. However, it seems that, despite all the inconvenience, that wo are able to hold our own with the best schools in Canterbury. (Applause.) A good deal of the credit for that is duo to tho ability of the teachers."